Elementary SCHOOLS
Clear Springs
Melanie McIvor
Classroom/Choir
melanie.mcivor@minnetonkaschools.org
Melanie has been a music teacher and choir director in the Minnetonka School district since the 2003-2004 school year. She has conducted the Tonka District Girl's Choirs for ten years. Her education includes a bachelor's degree from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master's in Teaching and Learning through Saint Mary's University.
“Singing in choirs has taken me to places all over the country and the world. I continue to value singing in my life because it is a human expression of emotion and touches my heart in so many different ways. When I sing, I feel connected to the other people in the choir and audience. It is hard to replicate the feeling of singing in a choir.”
Jenny Kimball
Classroom
jennifer.kimball@minnetonkaschools.org
Jennifer teaches elementary music at both Clear Springs and Scenic Heights Elementary. She holds a Bachelor's of Music from Augsburg University and a Master’s of Arts in Education from Hamline University. She has been teaching in the Minnetonka District since her start with student teaching in 1993.
Jennifer loves teaching kids to sing and be lifelong consumers of music. She is passionate about hearing kids sing beautiful text that inspires them, build them up, and give them a sense of meaning and hope.
“Nothing can touch your soul like music can, and that's what keeps me coming back for more each day.”
Deephaven
Melani Schwartz
Classroom/Choir
melani.schwartz@minnetonkaschools.org
Liz Anderson
Classroom
elizabeth.anderson@minnetonkaschools.org
Excelsior
Joel Gotz
Classroom/Choir
joel.gotz@minnetonkaschools.org
Joel holds two undergraduate degrees from UW–Stevens Point: a Bachelor of Music Theory/Composition Major: Classical Guitar, and a Bachelor of Music in K-12 Classroom/Choral Education Major: Voice and Piano. He also holds a Master of Education degree from St. Mary’s University.
Some of his favorite things that he enjoys teaching his students are seeing tall vowels, hearing choirs produce better sound and blend, and helping young singers appreciate healthier singing. But what tops the list, for Joel, is seeing students gain confidence with new skills and technique, and watching them develop into who they are as creative music makers and sensitive people.
“Music, teaching, and building community are a calling to me; I think that can be said about all teachers who love what they’re doing!”
Jason Zhang
Classroom
tianyi.zhang@minnetonkaschools.org
Groveland
Mona Anderson
Classroom/Choir
mona.anderson@minnetonkaschools.org
Mona has been teaching music in Minnetonka since 1998. She earned a B.S. in Music Education with a Vocal/Classroom Music emphasis from Mankato State. Mona was a part of both the concert choir and a show choir there, and had the opportunity to travel and perform. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education from St Mary's University.
"I enjoy connecting with students and watching them develop a love of music, as well as gain confidence in themselves and their performance skills."
Sarah Gorski
Classroom
sarah.gorski@minnetonkaschools.org
Chris Thomson
Traveling teacher/Classroom
christopher.thomson@minnetonkaschools.org
Minnewashta
Sarah Abelsen
Classroom/Choir
sarah.abelsen@minnetonkaschools.org
Sarah received her Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Augsburg College, and has been with Minnetonka Schools since 2010. She has also conducted the Cantate Choir (for children in grades 2-5) at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church since 2012, and created the Young Voices Choir (for children age 4-Grade 1) the following year.
“I think being a member of or directing a choir is one of the most rewarding things a person can do! I feel so fortunate that I get to do this every day!”
Becky Ashe
Classroom
becky.asche@minnetonkaschools.org
Beck Ashe holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Bemidji State University and a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from St. Mary’s University. She joined the Minnetonka School District in 2013 and discovered how much she enjoys teaching elementary kids to be brave, find their singing voices, and put themselves out there.
“I love the moments when the meaning of the text and the music come together and the learning of the notes becomes “musical.” When the kids realize that they could make music in a way that gives them goosebumps is like magic.”
Chris Thomson
Traveling teacher/Classroom
christopher.thomson@minnetonkaschools.org
Scenic Heights
Jackie Boyd
Classroom/Choir
jaclyn.boyd@minnetonkaschools.org
Nick Raimondi
Classroom
nicholas.raimondi@minnetonkaschools.org
Chris Thomson
Traveling teacher/Classroom
christopher.thomson@minnetonkaschools.org